Susan, hope your sister feels better soon. I also ended up being hospitalized for dehydration and malnutrition when I went thru chemo/rad. She must get 48+ oz water and 2500+ calories daily or she will feel awful. Once she gets the peg tube it will be easier for her.

Not one person here who got a peg tube wanted one. Its something that everyone struggles to avoid, but it is necessary for most of us. Very few have goten thru this without some type of feeding assistance. The tube will make it so much easier to count the calories and water comsumption. Try to encourage her to still do as much by mouth as possible. Even drinking water a few sips at a time will keep the swallowing muscles active. Its more difficult to relearn how to swallow later.

Best of luck to yoru sister.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile